A flexible, intermediate bulk container

Abstract: A flexible intermediate bulk container (10) includes a number of flexible elements (12.1,12.2) sewn to each other along longitudinally extending seams (14.1,14.2), at least two of the elements (12.1,12.2) being tubular.

Description: THIS INVENTION relates to a flexible, intermediate bulk container as defined in claim 1. EP 0 441 720 discloses a bag where the corners are formed by tubular elements, with a single sheet extending between the tubular elements. EP 0 552 845 A1 discloses a container having an outer envelope and an inner sleeve which are connected to each other along eight longitudinally extending seams. The use of separate tubular elements to form the bag is not disclosed or suggested. A floor panel may be sewn to operatively bottom edges of the elements. The container may include lifting straps. Each lifting strap may be in the form of a loop of lifting webbing, legs of each loop being sewn between each adjacent pair of said vertical edges. The legs of each loop may extend along substantially the entire length of said vertical edges, to ensure retention of the legs between the edges. The invention is now described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a schematic plan sectioned view of a flexible intermediate bulk container in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of the container of Figure 1. In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 50 generally indicates a flexible intermediate bulk container in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The container 50 includes four tubular elements 12 sewn to one another along longitudinally extending seams 14. The container 50 has four side walls 52. Each side wall 52 comprises one of the tubular elements 12. It will accordingly be appreciated that the longitudinal axis of each element 12 extends vertically, i.e perpendicularly to a floor panel 24. Each element 12 is substantially flat to provide a side wall 52 having two layers 54 of substantially the same size. Each element 12 has a top open end that is sewn closed along a hem 56. All the elements 12 have substantially the same dimensions. Thus, the container 50 has a square cross-section. It is to be appreciated that each tubular element 12 has an inner side 58, an outer side 60 and two opposed longitudinal edges 62. The floor panel 24 is sewn to operatively bottom edges 64 of both sides 58, 60 of the elements 12 along a seam 66. The container 50 also has lifting straps 26 located at corners 16 of the container 50. The lifting straps 26 are in the form of four loops of lifting webbing. Legs 28 of each loop are sewn to the container 50. The elements 12 are sewn together at their longitudinal edges 62 and the longitudinal edges 62 are located at the corners 16 of the container 50. Hence, the legs 28 of each lifting strap 26 are sandwiched between the longitudinal edges 62 and secured via the seams 14. Further, the legs 28 extend the length of the container 50 to ensure retention of the legs 28 between the edges 62. Diagonal panels 68 are sewn to the inner sides 58 of the elements 12 so that a diagonal panel 68 spans each corner 16. The diagonal panels 68 are double-walled. The inner side 58 of each element 12 is folded at two places along its length to form two substantially parallel flaps 70. The diagonal panels 68 are folded at their ends to form complementary flaps 72. Each flap 70 is sewn to a flap 72 along a longitudinal seam 74. The diagonal panels 68 have regions 76 cut out. The invention provides a container which, as a result of the use of the tubular elements 12, is of high strength and is simple to manufacture.

Claims: A flexible intermediate bulk container (50), having four elements (12) sewn to one another along longitudinally extending seams (14) to form a closed configuration having four side walls (52), characterised in that each element (12) is tubular and each pair of adjacent elements (12) defines a corner (16) of the container; a diagonal panel (68) being sewn to the inner sides of each pair of adjacent elements so that a diagonal panel spans each corner (16). The container as claimed in claim 1, in which each of the four diagonal panels comprises a tubular element. The container as claimed in claim 1, in which a floor panel (24) is sewn to operatively bottom edges (64) of the side walls. The container as claimed in claim 1, which includes lifting straps (26). The container as claimed in claim 4, in which each lifting strap is in the form of a loop of lifting webbing, legs (28) of each loop being sewn between a longitudinally extending seam. The container as claimed in claim 5, in which the legs of each loop extend along substantially the entire length of its associated longitudinally extending seam.

Inventors: GALLIE IAN GARTH, THORPE JOHN RICHARD, THORPE, JOHN RICHARD
Applicants: NAMPAK PRODUCTS, NAMPAK PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D88
IPC codes: B65D88